My Letter to the Wine Spectator Editor

Have you ever felt like the little brother that never gets any attention?  This is how I felt as I read your article :"Oregon Waits for 2008".  I live in the Umpqua Valley AVA, which, if you're not aware of is not a part of the Willamette Valley.  It's more than a little frustrating that our premier wine magazine here in the USA equates Oregon (a very large state) with only the Willamette Valley.  Those readers who are trying to get a comprehensive overview of what Oregon wines are all about come away believing that a.) The weather is the same all over Oregon; b.) There is one AVA, the Willamette Valley (and their clones); c.) The only wine we produce is Pinot Noir or Gris.

Even if your magazine is Willamette-centric and Pinot Noir is the only grape worthy of mention, you may be amazed to know that the recently inaugurated Oregon Wine Awards gave a double-gold (The Best of the Best) in the top Pinot Noir category to the 2007 Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards “Reserve Pinot Noir,” Umpqua Valley.  These are all "Pinotfiles" that choose for their top Pinot Noir an Umpqua Valley wine. 

Another oft forgotten fact is that when the Willamette wines do make your Recommended Wines list the fruit is often sourced from the Umpqua Valley as in the case of the Kings Ridge wine.  This quote is pulled off their site: "The grapes for the 2007 Kings Ridge Oregon Pinot Noir come from vineyards in the
renowned Willamette Valley and the Umpqua Valley"

The point is simply that Oregon is much more diverse than what is generally portrayed by the press.  Umpqua Valley AVA was the first to plant Pinot Noir in Oregon (1961), the first to plant Tempranillo, the first to plant Gruner Veltliner.  We have over 11 wineries producing outstanding Syrahs, several Zinfandels (first planted in 1888), and well balanced Cabernet Sauvignons.

Give Oregon its due!